In this letter President Harding writes to Ambassador Henry Fletcher to thank him for a gift and to talk about golf.

April 29, 1922

My Dear Fletcher:

I
have a challenge out to play under ninety at Chevy Chase before the year is done. I am going to win it or make a bonfire of all the golf sticks I possess.

Mr. Phillips delivered yours of April 13th, with the two very attractive neck ties which you were so thoughtful as to send to me. They are very much appreciated.

I was glad to have your favorable report concerning Colonel Harvey. I had somehow gotten the impression that his health was very much impaired.

It is a joy to have you so sympathetic concerning golf and "things". My golf is miserably bad, and at other sports they kick me around with no more consideration than is given a prohibition enforcement officer in the down-town wards in the big cities. I think some of these days my golf will come back. I have a challenge out to play under ninety at Chevy Chase before the year is done. I am going to win it or make a bonfire of all the golf sticks I possess. By the way, the new putting greens at Chevy Chase are open to play, and they are really very fine.

There is a conference of friends at the White House tonight to give a little farewell to Mr. Harold Sewell, of Maine. I shall mention to those assembled the message of greeting conveyed in your letter.

Give my best to Mrs. Fletcher, and be assured that all your old friends here miss you very much and are genuinely sorry that you have changed the scene of your official activities.

Very truly yours,

Warren G. Harding

Hon. Henry P. Fletcher
Embassy of the United States of America,
Brussels, Belgium

[The above letter is reproduced exactly as written and was obtained through the archives at the Library of Congress]